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LCBO stores raise funds for Variety Village

TORONTO, Feb. 24, 2012 /CNW/ - Starting February 26, the public can
support Variety Village by making a donation at any of the more than
620 LCBO stores throughout Ontario. Donation boxes for Variety will be
displayed at LCBO checkout counters until March 31.

Specifically geared to people with disabilities, Variety is dedicated to
providing programs and services promoting inclusion and integration and
strives to make people of all abilities fully accepted everywhere.
Proceeds from the LCBO provincial donation box program will be used in
support of Variety Village's Fitness Friends program. Fitness Friends partners a student with special needs with a mentoring peer and
encourages them to participate in inclusive physical activities outside
the school curriculum. These two-person teams, each with the support of
an educator, participate in as many inclusive sport and recreation
activities as possible during recess, lunch, and before and after
school. Fitness Friends reaches more than 1,200 students and is in 75 different schools in
Durham, Peterborough and Peel regions. Variety hopes to expand the
program to other regions with funding support.

"We thank LCBO, its employees and especially its customers for providing
us with the opportunity to share our cause," says John Willson,
President and CEO of Variety Village. "LCBO and its customers have been
important supporters of Variety in Ontario for many years and through
various campaigns. The donation box program is an effective way for us
to raise awareness and funds for our important programs, such as the Fitness Friends initiative."

"LCBO is pleased to partner with Variety Village and provide support to
a variety of worthy causes," says LCBO President and CEO Bob Peter.
"Generous LCBO customers and staff improve the lives of countless
Ontarians and help communities throughout the province."

Variety Village is one of 28 provincial, as well as numerous local
charities, that will benefit from LCBO's province-wide donation box
program in 2012. In 2010, LCBO raised a total of $5.4 million for
charities through special programs and initiatives, of which $4.8
million was raised through in-store fundraising. In addition, LCBO's
annual dividend transfer to the Ontario government, which totaled $1.55
billion in fiscal 2010-11, excluding taxes, supports a wide range of
important government programs, services and priorities, including
health care and education.

Variety Village thanks the public for its support when shopping at their
local LCBO store during March.